Idul Fitri

The government decided that Eid is today, Wednesday 31 Aug
– All the calendars say that Eid was yesterday, Tuesday 30 Aug
– People get confused. Then some celebrated on Tuesday, while most on Wednesday
– Apparently, the rest of the world celebrate it on Tuesday. I guess the moon in Indonesia was a bit shy
– How about the food that have been prepared?? Oh the woe of those families who have laboriously prepared Lebaran feast for Tuesday
– I haven’t taste any Lebaran food up to now. Our neighbors are mostly young families who go spent their holidays with their family
– I want ketupat, rendang, opor. Like now now?
– The maids were gone last Saturday. I’m the head (and only) maid now 🙂
– My brother and nephew went for church retreat for three days. The house was quiet and relatively easier to manage without those messy two but I’m mighty glad they’re back tonight
– I got something important coming next week
– I’m quite proud on how I manage without the maids. I did laundry on Monday, iron on Tuesday, and clean the house today.

– I’m not so secretly counting the days until the maids are back. One promised to be back on Sunday. Hopefully, she keeps her promise

Patience

I really need to work on patience. It is a virtue that I don’t posses, I think, ever. I can be cool, calm and collected among friends or colleague, but at home I’m more like a bucket of amber ready to burn at the first opportunity. I should be able to speak nicely and patiently to those I love and love me, but often I fail. I do stupid things, I have not so nice habits, and they tolerate them because it is who I am, but I rarely do the same to them.

Oh how I so easily tempted to raise my voice. How irritation creep progressively to my brain. How I think that everything pissed me off.

I remember again The Screwtape Letter book by CS Lewis which portray the weaknesses of human and how the Devil cleverly use them to bring human to sin. I could easily be that human. I’m that gullible to Devil’s plot.

Balikpapan in pictures

I’m at Balikpapan again. The previous post was written when I was nervously waiting for the consultant that was hours late, thanks to 4 hours delay of Garuda. I was so pissed because I always come a day before the meeting to avoid things like this. Yes, I’m often that neurotic for work related stuffs.

The day actually started in a good note. I’ve been meaning to check Depot Miki properly. Went there the last time, but didn’t know what to order. This time, I know I have to try their dimsum (bakpau actually… since they don’t have other).

I ordered their chicken bakpau and red bean. They are delicious!

But the best part is the coffee with condensed milk. I asked for just a little milk, otherwise it gets to bee too sweet. The coffee was smooth. Lovin’ it. Wish that I have the opportunity to try it again.

Together they make good breakfast. A bit expensive for breakfast, since two pieces of bakpau and coffee set me back Rp. 18,000.

Then I went back to the hotel and heard about the fiasco with consultant being delayed. Calling Nan back and forth to curse and whine, was so upset because I was afraid I’ll be wasting time and funds travelling to BPP without results. Around 10.15 I decided that there’s nothing else I can do, so I just wait until he gets here. I went down for breakfast at the hotel. They almost closed the breakfast bar but I managed to get a light breakfast. More dimsum; shumay, chicken wonton, egg yolk bun, and fried mantauw. I also took some beef bacon and sausages.

After that I went to do city check-in and stop by at Balikpapan Plaza. I was drowning my anxiety at the mall. Typical of me, isn’t it? I went back to my room and wait there until it’s time for late checkout at 1 PM.

Finally, around 1.20, the consultant texted me that he had landed. We went directly to the meeting place, and thank God, the meeting went well until 4 PM. Thank you for receiving us past your office hour, Mr. Head of Finance. Thank you for being responsive and answering the questions. Thank you Ma’am, for being a good liason. Sorry we took too much of your time.

We then went back to the hotel and I had a nice chat with the consultant. All well that ends well.

Then I went to Simpang Empat and bought their famed mantauw to take home, and also 2 portions of black pepper deer meet 🙂 I had late lunch there, around 5.30 local time. I ordered Seafood Tom Yum noodle. It was OK. Stopped by at Balikpapan Superblock to check its Matahari but nothing caught my fancy, then pick up the crab at Tambora and went to the airport.

The driver for today was nice. His name is Fauzi, he was very polite and not talkative at all. Which suits my mood well today.

So now I’m waiting for my 21.05 flight, which is delayed I think, since it’s past its boarding time already. Starbucks just opened their newest outlet here at Sepinggan Airport. I think I made smart decision just to sit here. At least I have access to electrical sockets, which is rare in this airport.

An upsized caffee latte, computer, internet, and nobody sit next to me. Finally, zen. Thank God that at the end I did what I came here for.

ps: my cheapo cellphone do pretty good job in taking pictures, isn’t it?

respiratory, costly

I have respiratory problem for as long as I can remember. I coughed a lot. My dad and grandpa were smokers and I’ve complained ever since I was little. My math teacher in Junior High always smells like cigarette…. that’s when I developed my addiction to Fishermen’s friends pastilles. I ate them, the hottest one, by mouthful just to help loosen my nasal passage.

Back when I was in US, I only have problem twice a year during the season changes. I will be sick for about a week each, but generally I didn’t have problem since I can tell my roommie not to smoke near me. But once I got back, I’ve been coughing non stop. Every episode of sickness last about two weeks and get more severe.

Until my aunt force me to go to the hospital for allergy treatment. She had the same treatment first, and it helps her breathe. So for the last few days, I go to the Medical Rehabilitation Therapy wing of RS. Husada. There, I got heat treatments for my lungs and use nebulizer. I suppose to have 5 sessions, which I have took 3 up to this day. Now I’m on a business travel so I will resume on Tuesday.

The cost of this therapy?
Rp. 100,000 for the doctor (discounted from Rp. 150,000 since one of my relative, a nurse at the hospital, took me there)
Rp. 225,000 for the medicines, including anti biotics for 5 days. Because at that time the doctor said that my allergy has gotten into flu-like, complete with swollen glands on my throat.
Each session of therapy: Rp. 90,000. The nurse said that price will increase by Monday (don’t know why)
Plus travel cost, and meals, etc.

Boy, am I pissed. I’m the victim of this polluted air, of second hand smokes that people blew at me, of all the dust of this tropic city. Who to blame? Many. And who to pay? Yours truly. Not to mention all the pain I’ve been dealing with for years.

If you don’t have respiratory allergy like me, you’re lucky one. You don’t know how it feels not to be able to breath freely. It sucks.

I’ve been feeling a little better with therapy. My coughing period getting shorter and the interval from one coughing fit to another is getting longer. I hope after I complete the session, I’ll be able to be free from this annoying cough.

call me silly to write a long post about coughing.

PS: the upside of about being around Mangga Besar is the food. Finally I got to try the bakmi gerobak that my brother’s been telling me about. Its cart is parked on a little alley across the street from Apotik Budi (I think that’s the name). The bakmi itself got no name, just a little banner “since 1968. we sell raw noodles”. It’s a bakmi Bangka-like with rounder, thicker noodles served with red pork and fried pork lard. I still think that the Bakmi Siantar at Jl. Petojo was more delicious, but this is OK. Rp. 20,000 per portion, come early since it usually sold out before 11AM.

another magic of the sky

I just learned from FB that the D-eby Family has welcome a baby girl to the world. I’m so excited! I’ve been waiting for this joyous announcement ever since I learned that they’re expecting another magic of the sky – that’s the mom’s euphemism that I’m familiar with. She used the same expression when she was expecting their son. Then they closed their blog (or start a new one without sharing me the link??) and I don’t know how they’re doing because they’re secretive as ever.

But, the most important thing is that a baby girl is born today to a loving family in Den Haag. Welcome, baby. You’re one lucky lass because your parents love you so so much. Kisses from Auntie R, and I hope I can meet you one day.

Kudos for the brave mom. Million hugs to you, my dear!

In Christ Alone

We studied this song for the last 2 choir practices. What exceptional about this song is the lyrics. I thought that this was an older piece, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was written in 2001. The lyrical, biblical verses are what touches me the most from the classic hymns, sadly missing from many contemporary songs. However, this song is different. Simple words with strong foundation. I just found out the terminology, it a credal song which convey the essential elements of our Christian belief, or creed.

In Christ alone
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.